"City of Aurora, Colorado is proposing to allow Gaylord Entertainment the right to vote, in addition to the $300 million dollars worth of incentives they plan on giving Gaylord to build their new private hotel complex in the northern part of the city"

Media Director Rob McNealy added, "Giving a corporation the right to vote is really a form of fascism. If we allow corporations to vote, there will be nothing to stop corporations from buying and influencing any elections that they choose."

They point to a clause (pg.56) in the incentive agreement between Aurora and Gaylord Entertainment Corporation where it defines an "ELECTOR" as first, a natural person, then as;

(2) ...ANY TAXABLE OR REAL PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE AREA OR PROPOSED AREA WHOSE OWNER IS NOT A NATURAL PERSON, ONE NATURAL PERSON WHO IS QUALIFIED TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE AND IS DESIGNATED BY SUCH OWNER TO VOTE FOR SUCH OWNER, WHETHER SUCH NATURAL PERSON RESIDES IN THE AREA OR PROPOSED AREA OR NOT. SUCH DESIGNATION SHALL BE IN WRITING AND FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK. ONLY ONE SUCH PERSON MAY BE DESIGNATED BY EACH OWNER

The language does clearly indicate that the City of Aurora will be granting a corporation the right to delegate a single person to cast a vote for a corporation.

If this interpretation stands, it is most certainly the most egregious example you can find of "fascism" as defined by the most prominent self-described fascist in history:

The Fascist State lays claim to rule in the economic field no less than in others; it makes its action felt throughout the length and breadth of the country by means of its corporate, social, and educational institutions, and all the political, economic, and spiritual forces of the nation, organised in their respective associations, circulate within the State.

If allowing a corporation to vote in general elections, as well as granting $300+ million of coercively collected funds of citizens doesn't define "a merger of state and corporate power", then nothing does.

Allowing the public (ie. taxpayers) to absorb $300 million of risk if the project fails, while allowing the corporation to pocket the profits from their risk-free business venture. Socialize the risk, privatize the profits.

These "public-private partnerships" are so commonplace today, no one thinks twice. But what needs to be understood is that when the bubbles pop, and the taxpayer is signed-on to unpayable debt, you cannot call it a failure of a free-market or capitalism.

It will be a failure of enough people who don't benefit from such coercively funded crony "partnerships" to come forward, and support a Principle, rather than a demonstrably violent "elite" group of authoritarian monopolymen and money-changers.

Or most likely if you will be contributing to the actual economy in the private workforce of Colorado or have a family at home waiting for dinner, and can't make a 7:30 meeting, you are encouraged to call 303-739-7015 or email citycouncil@auroragov.org.

Aurora citizens can let their city council know what they might think of the language included in the proposed incentive agreement. Or possibly whether they might support or deny the "public-private partnerships" that create moral hazard and leave the taxpayers holding the bill when things don't go according to plan.

America, and more immediately pressing, Aurora, needs to ask themselves if fascism is really what they want.

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Barry Ritchey II is an expert in the application of the Non-Aggression Principle and the right to self-ownership as it relates to civil liberties and economic opportunity. He truly loves this country, as his "country" is made up of the people he voluntarily interacts with, not the coercive, ever-prescient, public establishments American is currently saddled with. He hopes to see the universal rejection of violent force in his lifetime, including that of the state.